WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) released the following statement commemorating the 107^th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP):

“Today, I celebrate the 107th anniversary of the NAACP, an organization dedicated to eradicating racism and injustice in the United States.  Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has been a constant voice in the fight for civil rights. But, unlike other organizations, its original battlefield was the courtroom.

“The founders of the NAACP were smart. They understood that in order to combat ignorance, you must first change the laws that foster it.

“One of their first actions was to lobby against Jim Crow lynching laws.  Though their efforts were unsuccessful, they turned the nation’s attention to the ongoing mistreatment of Blacks in the 1920s and ‘30s.

“In 1954, the NAACP played a pivotal role in the historic landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. A team of NAACP lawyers joined Thurgood Marshall in a series of legal battles that would lead to segregation in public education being ruled unconstitutional. The organization was then instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1965.

“Since its inception, the NAACP has been our champion, and its expertise is now needed more than ever. We are at a critical point in our nation’s history, where strategic, collaborative efforts are best to move our country forward.   Like the NAACP, we must be catalysts for change, not the cause of division.

“The anniversary of the NAACP’s founding reminds us what can be done when we work together. We all must play a role in the advancement of our communities.

“To quote NAACP member, Ms. Rosa Parks, “Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.” As a nation, we must reject discrimination in any form and give all children a chance to succeed in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

“To the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP, my sincerest gratitude for all you have done to shape American history and ensure all of us have an opportunity to fully participate in the American Dream.  I am also grateful to the Cleveland and Akron NAACP chapters, whose programming and services in the 11th Congressional District have continued the work started 107 years ago. Thank you for being there in the streets, on college campuses, and at the courthouse. 

“Our communities are indebted to the NAACP’s vision, and the 107 years dedicated to righting the wrongs of our nation’s past.  Thank you for persevering and changing the face of America.”

 

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